YOU GOTTA READ THIS! VOL. 3

The book I have to share with you this month is a delightful read entitled, The Knights of Art: Stories of the Italian Painters by Amy Steedman. This short little book was originally intended as a children's schoolbook around the turn of the 20th century. I can honestly say, after reading this work, that the curriculum for kids back in 1907 was far more advanced than when I was in grade-school hahaha. The Knights of Art tells the stories of famous Italian artists specifically those from the Renaissance. But make no mistake this isn’t your run-of-the-mill dry textbook on art history, oh no, Ms. Steedman has done something truly wonderful here - she has taken important figures from this artistic movement and presented their personal histories in a storybook like manner. The end result is a book that enriches the reader with a lovely treasure trove of educational non-fiction information, while leaving them feeling as though they have just been told a nice bedtime story. 

Eighteen artists in total are represented in this book and the story of each of their lives is told in a single chapter. The short and sweet nature of these stories, combined with their fairytale-like quality, makes them easy to digest and just a pleasure to read. “Spare time” is not something that I normally have in abundance. So the fact that this book allowed me to learn about an artist’s entire life, comfortably, in the 5 or 10 minutes that I have before bed was awesome.

Upon opening the cover of this work, one will see a very straightforward table of contents. Each chapter is simply identified with the artist’s name along with their birth and death date. I found this to be a really handy quick reference. The fact that the chapters were also organized chronologically made it very simple to keep track of who was doing what when, and who came before whom. This is by no means a comprehensive list of every artist from the Renaissance period, more of an introductory sampler to pique your interest. Ms. Steedman explains her selections this way: 

“Now we will only single out, here and there, a few of those names which are perhaps greater than the rest. Just as on a clear night, when we look up into the starlit sky, it would bewilder us to try and remember all the stars, so we first learn to know those that are most easily recognized…” (Steedman pg. 12). 

Some of the names in The Knights of Art were very familiar to me, names like: Michelangelo, Botticelli, and Da Vinci. Many of them, however, were a fresh surprise. Names like: Giotto, Masaccio, and Fra Filippo Lippi. These men and their stories were totally new to me and I studied Art History in college! It is also worth noting that the chapters on the artists that I did recognize contained elements that I had never heard before. Each artist’s story held something new and intriguing. 

Florentine Youths - Drawing by Masaccio

The stories and historical information contained in The Knights of Art are absolutely wonderful but there are also several “sub-themes” woven into the book which I really adore. The first, and most apparent, has to do with the book’s intended audience - children. Ms. Steedman makes a point in her storytelling to praise and promote good behaviors. This is obvious right off the bat in the very first chapter about the artist Giotto. Giotto’s artist story is incredible (and I won’t spoil it for you) but the author also goes out of her way to highlight the characteristics that made him a good person. Ms. Steedman strongly emphasizes these qualities to her young audience - like the fact that; he was hardworking and “never left anything half done;” as a child he sought his father’s permission; and as an adult he was a peacemaker who was known by all to be “good-natured, kindly, and sunny-tempered.” (pg. 10, pg. 11). I have to say it’s refreshing in this day and age to read a book that simply promotes being a good person. While this angle was obviously intended to teach children good behavior, it did not diminish my experience as an adult reader at all. If anything, it left me feeling encouraged and uplifted. 

Another refreshing aspect of this book is that the artists are not presented in isolation. In the art history books which I encountered in college, artists were often talked about in seclusion and the information about their work had been distilled down to a sterilized bullet point list.

•When they were born

•When/where they worked

•Significant historical events that may or may not have impacted them

•Famous works or artistic movements attributed to them

•When they died

This dry method of delivery left me feeling quite detached and unemotional about the great men of Art History. As a result I really felt no desire to commit them to memory. They were simply a soulless list of names in a stack of flashcards that I was obligated to recall for exams. In The Knights of Art, however, you really get the sense that these were real people who led very real lives. They interacted with one another, inspired one another, and in some cases mentored one another. Ms. Steedman makes a point to remind us, throughout the broader story of the book as a whole, that many of these artists lived in the same region (sometimes even in the same cities). Because of this their lives overlapped. They saw and were influenced by the pieces created by the generations of artists in the previous chapters. They went to the same churches and passed through the same towns on their journeys. In some instances the hopeful young artists even watched in awe as these great works were being created. Ms. Steedman uses beautiful metaphors throughout the book to describe how integral the sharing of inspiration is to Art. She refers to this progression as a golden ladder or chain where each generation is building upon the efforts of the last.

The Annunciation by Filippo Lippi

By far though, my favorite theme contained in The Knights of Art is that: “everybody is good at something.” Many of the artists featured in The Knights of Art have extremely humble beginnings. They start their journey being labeled “unwanted” and “useless” by society (or even their family). This is most definitely the case in the story of Fra Filippo Lippi. This story is one of my favorites from The Knights of Art. Filippo Lippi’s tale begins with him braving the cold while scavenging for food out on the street. Filippo had been orphaned at a very young age and was left in the care of his aunt, who herself was very poor. Unable to feed or care for the boy, Filippo’s aunt gives him away to the local monastery in an act of total desperation. The boy lives a happy, healthy, well-fed existence inside the walls of the monastery… that is until the poor monks try to train him. In our modern culture Filippo would have most likely been diagnosed with a learning disability. He had difficulty concentrating, reading, and had zero aptitude for learning Latin (which is a big deal if you are trying to become a monk). To make matters worse, Filippo often defaced his schoolbooks turning the letters into little faces and creatures. This was really the final straw and the brothers brought him before the Prior, totally at their wits’ end. 

“‘We can teach him nothing,’ said the brother, shaking a severe finger at Filippo, who hung his head. ‘He cannot even learn his A B C. And besides, he spoils his books, ay, and even the walls and benches, by drawing such things upon them.’” (pg. 26). 

But the Prior was a kind man and did not want to give up on the little boy who had come to them in such dire need. The Prior then came up with an ingenious idea. Where the other brothers saw only deficiency, he saw a spark of potential. His solution - to set Filippo up as an apprentice under the monk who lettered and decorated the prayer books. Fra Filippo excelled in his training and soon surpassed his fellow pupils and even his teacher. It wasn’t long before Filippo’s skill grew beyond the pages of the prayer books and he was painting full-blown frescos at the monastery. The monks were thrilled to have one of their own adorn the walls of their home with beautiful depictions of the saints and angels. But like any teenage boy would, Filippo grew restless and he longed for life outside the walls of the monastery. “And so one dark night, when all the brothers were asleep and the bells had just rung the midnight hour, Fra Filippo stole out of his cell, unlocked the convent door, and ran swiftly out into the quiet street.” (pg. 29). The reality of what happens next is truly more incredible than fiction… and if you want to find out what it is you will just have to pick up a copy of The Knights of Art to read the rest of the story ;). 

Have a great week you guys and happy reading! 

...P.S.

Tucker says: "reading makes me sleepy"